Mail dispenser



April 14, 1942. H, SILVER 2,279,643

MAIL DISPENSER Filed Oct. 7, 1940 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 14, 1942 UNITED STATES rarer OFFICE= MAIL DISPENSER Monroe H. Silver, Canton, N. 0. Application October 7, 1940, Serial No. 360,207

2 Claims.

The present invention relates to a new and improved mail' dispenser especially adapted for use by rural mail carriers in the delivery of mail.

An important object of the invention is to provide a mail dispenser embodying means for maintaining various articles of mail separably classified for delivery by the rural mail carrier to each individual box owner to effect a saving of time and labor when serving the R. F. D. rural mail.

Afurther object of the invention resides in the provision of a mail dispenser including a frame adapted to be supported in a vehicle and having means whereby rural mail may be arranged for distribution in the order in which mail boxes are arranged on a mail route.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mail dispenser including a frame on which is carried a coil spring having a multiplicity of convolutions, the space between each individual convolution adapted to receive and retain individual articles of mail to be delivered on a rural mail route with each convolution of the spring identifying the name of an individual box holder on the mail route whereby the mail carrier can select the mail to be delivered to successive box holders.

The invention also consists in certain other features of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, to be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing and specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

In describing my invention in detail, reference will be had to the accompanying drawing wherein like characters denote like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which;

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectionalview of the mail dispenser in use.

Figure 2 is a top plan view thereof.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary enlarged top plan view illustrating the means of identifying the convolutions of the coil spring.

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Referring to the drawing for a more detailed description thereof, the mail dispenser is generally designated by the reference numeral 5 and includes a frame 6 consisting of rods 1 arranged in spaced parallel relation. The rods 1 are telescopically associated with tubular members 8 to permit the length of the frame, and consequently the length of the dispenser, to be varied. The

centralmost rod 9 is clamped to the centralmost tubular member ID by means of a set screw II which looks the rods within the tubular members after the frame has been adjusted to its desired name of the box holder.

length. The outer ends of the rods 1 are connected together by-a cross bar 12 secured thereto by any desired means and likewisethe outer ends of the tubular members 8 are connected together by means of a cross bar 13 attached thereto by any desired means. Thus there is formed a substantially rectangular-shaped lengthwise adjustable frame consisting of rods 1, tubular members 8 and cross bars I2 and l3,-respectively.

A coil spring generally designated by the reference numeral I4 is carried on the frame 6 and, as more particularly shown in Figure 4 of the drawing, said spring rests upon the side rods of the frame 6,.the center rod passing through the spring. One end l5 of the spring is connected to an upwardly extending arm l6 carried by the cross bar I 2, while the other end I! is connected to an upwardly extending arm l8 carried by the cross bar I3. Adjusting the size of the frame 6 will expand and contract the convolutions [9 of the spring.

The various articles of mail to be delivered are held between the convolutions I9 and in the use of the dispenser it is preferred that the name of each box owner along the mail route is to be indicated at the top of the spring as shown in Figure 3, the names to appear in the order in which the boxes are arranged'on the route. The mail carrier will assert the mail at the post ofiice and when making delivery it will merely be necessary to select the mail from the appropriate con volution which, as afore indicated, will bear the The dispenser is preferably positioned in the vehicle at an angle as shown in Figure 1 with one end of the frame elevated above the other so that the weight and pressure of the spring and mail at the inclined end will securely hold all of the mail within the spring. Any desired means can be employed for mounting the elevated end onto a support designated by the reference numeral 20. The use of the dispenser will eliminate the laborious process of observing each letter and reaching to some other section in the vehicle for magazines, newspapers and the like so that the delivery of rural mail can be accomplished with a minimum amount of time and eiTorton the part of the carrier. The telescoping of the frame renders it adjustable for use with routes having a large number of box holders as Well as with routes having a small number of box holders.

Also it will be understood, of course, by those skilled in the art that variations in the hereinabove described'device involving the substitution of substantial equivalents for the devices described are intended to be comprehended within the spirit of the present invention and that the invention is capable of extended application and is not confined to the exact showing of the drawing nor to the precise construction described and, therefore, such changes and modifications may be made therein as do not affect the spirit of the invention nor exceed the scope thereof as expressed in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a mail holding device of the character described, an elongated skeleton frame having parallel longitudinal side members rigidly connected to transverse end members, a centrally disposed longitudinal member disposed intermediate of and spaced from the side longitudinal members and connecting with the end cross members of the frame, the said central member being parallel with and in a common plane with the longitudinal side members, the said side and central longitudinal members including telescopically connected sections for lengthwise adjustment of the frame, an upwardly projecting arm formed on each end cross member of the frame, an elongated cylindrical coil of wire mounted longitudinally on the frame having its ends fastened to the said end arms, the said coil being of an external diameter exceeding the width of the frame and resiliently extensible therewith,

the said coil resting on the side longitudinal members of the frame and having the central longitudinal member extended through the lower portion thereof to firmly connect the coil with the frame, the respective convolutions of the coil being disposed to releasably engage mail matter in transverse position therebetween.

2. In a mail holding device of the character described, an elongated frame having parallel longitudinal side members rigidly connected to transverse end members, a centrally disposed longitudinal member disposed intermediate of and spaced from the said longitudinal members, the said central member being parallel with the longitudinal members and connected with the transverse end members of the frame, an upwardly projecting arm formed on each transverse end member in a position perpendicular thereto, an elongated coil of wire mounted longitudinally on the frame and having its ends fastened to the upper ends of the said arms, the said coil being disposed so that its longitudinal side portions rest on the side members of the frame and the central longitudinal member extends through the lower portion thereof to firmly seat the coil on the frame, the respective convolutions of the coil being disposed to releasably engage mail matter I in transverse position therebetween.

MONROE H. SILVER. 

